The average caravan will spend most of its life in storage, so it makes sense to get a routine going to keep it safe so it’s ready to go touring when you are. A good storage routine will also extend your caravan’s life and help you to keep it secure from break-ins and theft.
Where to store your caravan
There are three main options for caravan storage:
- store your caravan outside your home
- store your caravan informally on a rural property
- store your caravan with a dedicated secure storage provider
Practical Caravan explores these choices for caravan storage in detail.
Prepare your caravan’s bodywork for storage
The off-season is a suitable time to inspect and clean your caravan. It’s also the right time to get any damage repaired as workshops will be less busy, and there is less urgency because you won’t be desperate to get it done in time for a planned break.
Get your caravan’s interior ready for winter storage
A thorough clean of your caravan’s interior will mean your van smells fresh and lovely at the start of next touring season. This is also an opportunity to check cupboards and storage spaces to make sure you haven’t left anything behind.
Leave interior caravan doors ajar – including the fridge door – to improve ventilation, but close rooflights and vents during winter storage.
Caravan plumbing and winter storage
You’ll need to follow the instructions in your caravan’s handbook for draining the water system and the toilet. This will ensure you don’t have to deal with damage caused by freezing or stagnant water in your caravan’s system.
Items that you should not store inside your caravan
When storing your caravan, empty it of all valuables such as small appliances. This will make it less tempting to burglars looking for easy swag. Leave blinds open so it’s clear there’s nothing inside of value.
You can make your property less tempting to thieves looking to steal an entire caravan by removing seat cushions and upholstery and storing them elsewhere. The reason is that thieves want a quick turnaround for their efforts. What they don’t want to do is spend cash and time obtaining new upholstery so they can sell the caravan. Another good reason to keep upholstery outside your stored caravan is that the interior will be prone to changes in temperature, which may result in condensation, leaving your soft furnishings damp and musty.
Caravan upholstery is bulky and not the sort of thing you want to keep in your home or in an unheated outbuilding. So why not use self-storage to keep it secure through the winter.
Some caravan storage operators do not allow you to store gas cylinders with your van. They may have a dedicated gas storage enclosure, or you may need to take the cylinder home with you and store it securely in the open air.
Will my Store and Insure policy cover my caravan when it is in storage?
Caravans are outside the remit of Store and Insure – but any domestic goods, including small appliances taken out of your caravan and put into your storage unit would be covered by your Store and Insure policy. Get a quote today to see if Store and Insure can save you money on your self-storage insurance.
